A session court in Kolhapur has sent former journalist Prashant Koratkar to 14 days judicial custody against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji in the case of using a “objectionable” language. Koratkar, a resident of Nagpur, was arrested on 24 March.
At the end of police custody period, he was produced in court through video conferencing on Sunday. Since the police did not put much emphasis on Koratkar’s further custody, the court sent the former journalist to judicial custody for 14 days.
The police officer said that due to security reasons, he will be kept in a separate cell in Kalmba Jail in Kolhapur.
The authorities had decided to produce Koratkar in court through video conferencing due to security reasons, as they were misbehaved while carrying out the court premises on 24 March.
In addition, on March 28, a lawyer abused. However, according to the police, there was no physical attack on him.
On February 26, a case was registered against him from Telangana, after which he was arrested from Telangana on 24 March on the basis of audio talks between Koratkar and Historian of Kolhapur Indrajit Sawant.
During this conversation, Koratkar allegedly made objectionable remarks, which Sawant posted on social media. After this, widespread resentment spread and the arrest of Koratkar was demanded.
An FIR was lodged under the Indian Justice Code to allegedly promote hatred or enmity among the groups.
Earlier, Additional Sessions Judge DV Kashyap gave him protection from arrest till March 1, after which the Kolhapur police moved the Bombay High Court demanding the cancellation of this interim protection. At that time, the Bombay High Court had asked the Kolhapur Sessions Court to hear the case.
On March 18, Additional Sessions Judge D.V. Kashyap’s court had rejected Kurtkar’s anticipatory bail plea, which cleared the way for his arrest.
Koratkar had claimed in the petition that his phone and audio were tampered with. He also mentioned that he has publicly apologized.
